Locking mechanism for a tiltable copyboard



May 14, 1963 w. WANIELISTA 3,

LOCKING MECHANISMFOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD.

Filed June 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l fig 1 fig i 1 4242 1" r -a JF 1a E;I 416 i: 114 i ii 120 INVENTOR.

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LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD Filed June 9, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,089,385 Patented May 14, 1963fiice 3,089,385 LOCKING MECHANISM FDR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD WalterWanielista, Westchester, Ill., assignor to Robertson Photo-Mechanix,Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 9, 1961, Ser.No. 116,055 6 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates to a copyboardconstruction for graphic arts camera apparatus, and more particularly toa copyboard having a supporting and locking means effective to move thecopyboard to a predetermined loading position offset from an exposingposition and to maintain such position until such time as a hinged glasscover of the copyboard is locked in firm assembly with the otherportions of the copyboard.

A special problem in the loading and unloading of copyboards for usewith graphic arts apparatus using a reflex type camera is presented, inthat the copyboard is normally upright. If the board is tilted to ahorizontal position, any movement towards upright position beforelocking of the cover will misalign the workpiece.

The present invention overcomes this problem by means of a lock pinwhich is automatically placed in locking relationship with a lock plateon the support for the copyboard, when the copyboard is set horizontallyand opened for loading. The lock pin is again released to permit tiltingof the copyboard away from loading position only when the copyboardcover is fully closed and locked.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide alocking mechanism for a tiltable copyboard for use in praphic artsreproducing apparatus, whereby a copyboard is locked against tiltingduring loading thereof, and is only released for tilting to theoperative position thereof when the copyboard cover has been fullyclosed and locked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of copyboard mechanism according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the copyboard of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and section, of theupper left hand corner of the copyboard as shown in FIGURE 2 (i.e., thelower left hand corner if the drawing is viewed in its verticalalignment);

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of the lockingstructure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the locking mechanism seenin FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, and takenalong lines IXIX of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a partial view corresponding to the view of FIGURE 6, butshowing the locking mechanism in locked position; and

mounted on a track 14 which is shown as supported on a support block 16.A copyboard 18 is pivotally mounted on the upstanding arms 20 and 22 ofthe support 12 by means of trunnions 24 and 26, as seen in FIGURE 2 Thecopyboard 18 may be tilted selectively between the upright, operativeposition shown and a horizontal loading and unloading position, by meansof control mechanism including a handle 28, which may extend rearwardlyof the copyboard 18, as shown, and journaled on one of the uprights,such as the upright 20, by means of a journal post 30 or the like. Thehandle 28 may actuate hook elements 32 and 34 adapted to releasablyengage stop projections 36 and 38 on the adjacent side of the copyboard18.

A bell crank 44 is controlled by the handle 28 to actuate the hook 32,and to also actuate the hook 34, by means of a link 42, although it willbe understood that other locking and release mechanism may be utilizedfor the purpose within the scope of the invention. In the example shown,the book 34 is in latching relationship with the stop 38; and actuationof the handle 28 may serve to release the stop 38 from the hook 34 sothat the entire copyboard 18 may be pivoted, to cause the stop 36 toengage in the hook 32. Release of the stop 36 from the hook 32 may beaccomplished similarly by actuation of the handle 28, to return thecopyboard 18 to the vertical position shown.

If the copyboard would be tilted to the vertical position after loadingand before the copyboard had been completely closed and locked, thematerial or workpiece loaded in the copyboard might become misaligned.The present invention overcomes this difficulty by a safety interlockwhich prevents the copyboard from being tilted to the vertical positionafter loading, unless the copyboard is completely closed and locked,thereby to eliminate the accidental opening of the cover when thecopyboard is in the vertical position. To this end, a lock plate 44 issecured by fastening means 46 to one of the uprights of the support 12,and to the upright 20 in the form shown. The plate 44 has an opening 48therein, for releasably engaging locking means 50 on the copyboard, anda pin 52 thereof, as hereinafter further described.

The copyboard 18 includes a cover or front section 54 and a main base orback section 56, hingedly interconnected by hinges 53, the trunnions 24and 26 being preferably mounted in brackets 60 and 62 connected to theback section 56. The cover or front section 54 includes a frame 64 towhich is secured a glass plate or the like 66, as understood by thoseskilled in the art, and the main base or rear section 56 may carry abacking member 68 by means of suitable bolts or the like (not shown)secured to the rear section frame 69. As seen in FIGURE 9, telescopingtubes 70 and 72 may be pivotally mounted at opposite ends of therespective sections 54 and 56 by pivot pins 74 and '76, to controlopening and closing of the cover 54 of the copyboard 18.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 5, it will be seen that the front section54 has pivotally secured thereto a handle bar 78 joined by arms 8t and82 to the upper and lower ends of one side of the front section frame64. A cross bar 34 is pivoted within the frame 69 and connects the armsand 82. In order to lock and release the cover section 54 from the mainbase section 56, a hook element 86 is fixedly secured to the cross bar34, and prefera'bly one such element is mounted at each end of the crossbar. A pin 88 is mounted on a side of the frame 69 of rear section 56 toextend perpendicularly relative to the hook 86, and the pin 88 may besuitably adjusted within an opening 99 in a support mounting 92 on theframe 69 by screw means or the like (not shown), it being understoodthat various forms of mounting for the pin 88 may be utilized within thescope of the invention.

The hook 86 is biased toward locking engagement with the pin 88 by aspring 94 connected to a bracket 96 on the hook and to a portion of theframe 64 (not shown). Control of the extent of angular movement of thehook 86 and also of the handle bar '78 may be afforded by an upper bolt98 threaded in an angle bracket 1% connected by bolts 182 to the frame64, and preferably provided with a nut element 184 for the purpose, anda lower bolt 186 mounted on the frame 64 by a support shoulder 188welded or otherwise secured thereto, and engaging an adjustment nutelement 118 or the like.

It will therefore be seen that by clockwise movement of the handle bar78, in the example shown, the latch 86 may be released relative to thepin 88 to open the copyboard 18, and locking movement may be reverselyaccom plished, with the limits of movement being determined by the boltelements 98 and 186, as described.

In order to prevent tilting of the copyboard 18 from the horizontalloading position to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 1, until suchtime as the hook 86 is in operative locking relationship with the pin88, the means 50 for selective locking engagement with the plate 44include spring means such as a helical spring 112 mounted within acylindrical housing 114 which is welded or otherwise secured to theframe 69, the spring 112 bearing against the external lateral wallsurface of the frame and against a stop element 116 on the pin 52. Thestop element 116 may be an annulus connected by a screw or the like 118to the pin 52 at a position such that in the outwardly extended positionof the pin the stop element 116 abuts a lower wall 120 of the housing114. In this position, the pin 52 i extended when the copyboard 18 hasbeen tilted to the horizontal position and unlocked, as hereinafterfurther described.

The pin 52 extends through an opening 122 in the frame 69 and has areduced stem portion 124 at its inner end. In order to actuate the pin52, a cam lever 126 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 128 which may befixedly secured to the side of the frame 69. As seen in FIGURE 8, thebracket 128 retains a pivot pin 130 which supports the lever 126 at itsouter end, a bearing ring or the like 132 being preferably interposedbetween the lever 126 and the bracket 128, and secured to the pin 130 bya screw or the like 134. One end of the lever 126 adjacent the frame 69is apertured to receive a stud 136 having a head 138 adjustablyreceiving the reduced stern portion 124 of the pin 52. The stud 136 mayhave a stem portion 139 thereof threaded to receive a nut element 140,whereby the stud is maintained in relatively rotatable position on thelever 126. In order to control extension of the pin 52, adjustment ofthe position of the pin relative to the lever 126 may be accomplished bymeans of a nut element 142 at the upper end of the reduced portion 124.

The other end of the lever 126 carries a camming pin 144, and in orderto control the position of the pin 144, and thus vary the position ofthe pin 52, a cam member 146 is secured to the side of the frame 64 inpredetermined registration with the lever 126. The cam member 146 mayhave a base 148 attached to the frame by bolt means 150 or the like, andan integral upstanding flange 152 which is out out to form a track 153,as seen in FIG- URE 6, to form a cam track for the pin 144. Thus, theupper and lower edges 154 and 155 of the cam track 153 extend angularlyto substantially the edge of the frame 64.

Referring to FIGURE 10, it will be seen that the spring 112 normallybiases the pin 52 outwardly of the housing 50. However, when thecopyboard sections 54 and 56 are pivoted from an open position, towardone another, as occurs after the copyboard has been loaded in itshorizontal position, the pin 144 will be brought into abuttingengagement with the upper cam track 154. Thereby, further inwardmovement of the front section 54 toward the rear section 56 will cam thepin 144 into the cam track so that the other end of lever 126 will pivotinwardly of frame 69. This camming action will take place until suchtime as the copyboard sections 54 and 56 are fully engaged, whereuponthe pin 52 will have been fully retracted. When the copyboard sectionsare thus engaged, the hook 86 will lock against the pin 88 to lock thesaid sections in securely assembled relationship. As indicatedpreviously, this locking relationship may be adjusted by the adjustmentof the position of the pin 88, and likewise, the extent to which the pin52 is withdrawn may be controlled by adjustment of the nut element 142on the pin 52.

In operation, therefore, the copyboard 18 may be released from itsvertical position shown in FIGURE 1 by actuation of the arm 28 so that,for example, the hook 34 releases the stop 38, and the handle bar 78 maybe used to control pivotal movement of the copyboard and to bring thecopyboard into a substantially horizontal position so that the hook 32is caused to engage the stop 36. 7

As also indicated previously, variation in this particular relationshipmay be accommodated- Within the scope of the invention, but in any eventsuitable stop means may be utilized to automatically position thecopyboard at a horizontal loading position. Thereupon, the handle bar 78may be lifted somewhat to disengage the hook 86 from the pin 88.Thereby, the copyboard sections 54 and 56 will be free for mutualrelative pivotal movement. Further lifting of the section 54, as bymeans of the handle bar 78, or otherwise, may cam the pin 144 out of thetrack 153 by means of the lower edge 155 of the cam track with referenceto FIGURE 6. However, the spring 112 will also urge the pin 52 outwardlyto effect rotation of the lever 126 with the pin 144 being guided by theupper cam edge 154, as the sections 54 and 56 are pivoted apart.

The locked horizontal position of the copyboard is such that the pin 52is automatically disposed in register with the aperture 48 in the lockplate 44.

The working surface of the main base 56 is suitably scribed and markedto facilitate precise alignment of a workpiece thereon. Thereafter thecover 54 is closed to lock the workpiece in aligned position.

The synchronized engagement of pin 52 in aperture 48 is afforded by asomewhat elongated configuration thereof, and it will be appreciatedthat with the horizontal locking means, including the hook 32 released,the lock plate 44 will maintain the copyboard 18 in a relativelyhorizontal position. An opening 48a is preferably formed in the lockplate, having an arcuate configuration, and which may engage a fasteningelement (not shown) to [afford adjustment in the angular position of thelock plate if desired. However, when the copyboard is opened, the pin 52will be projected into locking relationship with the aperture 48 in thelock plate 44 and will prevent tilting of the copyboard 18 to a verticalposition until the copyboard is again closed. Therefore, when thecopyboard is tilted to a vertical position, there will be no danger thatthe sections 54 and 56 are in unlocked relation, and the copyboard willnot accidentally open. Further, the configuration of the aperture 48assures that the pin 52 will engage therewith upon opening of thecopyboard, despite minor variation in the extension cycle of the pin.

There has thus been provided a copyboard safety interlock which issimple, reliable, and highly effective in preventing a copyboard frombeing tilted to a vertical position after loading, until the copyboardhas been completely closed and locked. And correspondingly, theconstruction of the invention eliminates accidental opening of the coverof the copyboard when the copyboard is in the vertical position.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respectto certain specific principles and details thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set 'forth inthe hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of saidsections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said leverarm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of saidsections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam elementaffording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to anoutwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positionedto enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of saidone of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, toprevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are inthe opened condition thereof and stop means for releasably retainingsaid one of said sections in said predetermined angular position.

2. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of saidsections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said leverarm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of saidsections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam elementaffording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to anoutwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, meansdefining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin beingpositioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angularposition of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of saidsections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when saidsections are in the opened condition thereof, stop means for releasablyretaining said one of said sections in said predetermined angularposition and lock means for releasably locking said sectionsautomatically upon closing of said sections whereby said copyboard isprevented from tilting from said predetermined angular position untilsaid sections are closed and said sections are maintained againstinadvertent opening after said closing thereof.

3. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopy-board, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of saidsections, a

cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm beingpivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sectionsto retract said pin and said cam means and cam element affording reversepivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extendedposition upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock apertureon said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lockaperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of saidsections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltablemovement of said copyboard when said sections are in the openedcondition thereof.

4. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for til-table movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of saidsections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said leverarm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of saidsections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam elementaffording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to anoutwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, meansdefining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin beingpositioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angularposition of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of saidsections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when saidsections are in the opened condition thereof, stop means for releasablyretaining said one of said sections in said predetermined angularposition and stop means for releasably maintaining said copyboard in apredetermined exposure position angularly displaced from saidpredetermined angular position of said one of said sections.

5. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of saidsections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said leverarm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of saidsections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam elementafiording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to anoutwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, meansdefining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin beingpositioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angularposition of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of saidsections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when saidsections are in the opened condition thereof, said means for releasablylocking said sections in said closed position including a handle bar,end arms on said handle bar, a bar fixedly connected to said end armsand extending through an end of the other of said sections opposite tosaid one end of said copyboard in journalled relation thereto, a hookconnected to said bar extending through said other of said sections, anelement in said one of said sections engaging said hook in the closedcondition of said sections and means urging said hook into said engagedrelation with said element on said one of said sections, said handle barbeing selectively pivotal to release said hook and open said sectionsand to close said sections and engage said hook, and affording means toeffect tilting of said copyboard when said pin has been retracted fromsaid aperture.

6. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair ofsections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angularmovement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, supportmeans for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to saidsupport means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axisperpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pinextending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at anend of said one of said sections opposite said one end of saidcopyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sectionsand having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pinoutwardly of 'jacent the other end of said copyboard, said lock platedefining an opening affording synchronized engagement of said pintherein, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in apredetermined angular position of said one of said sections and uponrelative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of saidcopyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,257,581 Ulsheimer Sept. 30, 1941 2,554,712 Maxwell May 29, 19512,713,294 Padgett July 19, 1955 2,897,740 Perrin Aug. 4, 1959 2,957,400Sussin Oct. 25, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 258,212 Great Britain Sept. 16,1926

1. A COPYBOARD MECHANISM COMPRISING A COPYBOARD HAVING A PAIR OFSECTIONS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS FOR RELATIVE ANGULARMOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH ONE END OF SAID COPYBOBOARD,SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID COPYBOARD,MEANS JOURNALLING ONE OF SAID SECTIONSTO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR TILTABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID COPYBOARD ABOUT ANAXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTIONS, APIN EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND ATAN END OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS OPPOSITE SAID ONE END OF SAIDCOPYBOARD, A LEVER ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID ONE OF SAID SAIDSECTIONS AND HAVING ONE END ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID PIN, MEANS BIASINGSAID PIN OUTWARDLY OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, CAM MEANS IN THE OTHEROF SAID SECTIONS, A CAM ELEMENT ON THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER ARM, SAIDLEVER ARM BEING PIVOTED BY SAID CAM MEANS AND SAID CAM DURING CLOSING OFSAID SECTIONS TO RETRACT SAID PIN AND SAID CAM MEANS AND CAM ELEMENTAFFORDING REVERSE PIVOTING OF SAID LEVER ARM TO RELEASE SAID PIN TO ANOUTWARDLY EXTENDED POSITION UPON OPENING OF SAID SECTIONS, MEANSDEFINING A LOCK APERTURE ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID PIN BEINGPOSITIONED TO ENTER SAID LOCK APERTURE IN A PREDETERMINED ANGULARPOSITION OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND UPON RELATIVE OPENING OF SAIDSECTIONS, TO PREVENT TILTABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID COPYBOARD WHEN SAIDSECTIONS ARE IN THE OPENED CONDITION THEREOF AND STOP MEANS FORRELEASABLY RETAINING SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS IN SAID PREDETERMINEDANGULAR POSITION.